BC Cancer Foundation With Elissa Ming Morrissette, Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer

For this episode’s Opportunity Spotlight, we are joined by Elissa Ming Morrissette, Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer of BC Cancer Foundation, who talks about their new Executive Director role. She explains what they are looking for in their future ED, who will play a pivotal role in the largest philanthropic funder of cancer research in British Columbia. Elissa also explores her collaborative leadership style built on trust, as well as some compelling reasons why a seasoned leader should join their foundation.

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BC Cancer Foundation With Elissa Ming Morrissette, Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer

I’m delighted to have Elissa Morrissette, who is the Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer with the BC Cancer Foundation, joining me. In this episode, we’re going to be talking about the executive director gift and estate planning role at the foundation. Welcome, Elissa.

Thanks so much for having me, Christoph. I’m really excited to be here and to share more about the BC Cancer Foundation and this really exciting opportunity.

BC Cancer Foundation: British Columbia’s Largest Funder Of Cancer Research

I think it is an exciting opportunity. Very much so. I’m so excited to be working with you. You and I have known each other for years now. This is the first opportunity to work together, so it’s so thrilling to be able to work with you on such an important role in such an important time at the foundation for that. Maybe we can start off with a bit of context. For those people that may not be familiar with the BC Cancer Foundation, maybe you can tell me a little bit about it.

Absolutely. The BC Cancer Foundation is the fundraising partner of BC Cancer, and together, we’re driving progress for the 80,000 British Columbians who depend on BC Cancer each year. We are the largest funder of cancer research in our province. I think it’s important to note that we are a provincial organization with offices across BC and I think that makes us quite unique. Every dollar that we raise stay right here in British Columbia to fuel world-leading research and care across the province.

It’s an exciting organization. We’ve grown tremendously over the past few years, and we’re able to make impact in areas such as early detection, personalized treatments, infrastructure, technology, and we do that by connecting donors, generosity to tangible projects that can drive progress forward. We funded several first in Canada, and first in the world initiatives that are improving healthcare for our population.

Elissa Ming Morrissette’s Role At BC Cancer Foundation

That’s excellent. I love that impact. The first in Canada, first in the world. I know for firsthand experience, you talked about the 80,000 people. I’ve certainly been touched by cancer so many of us have in our lives and situations. Hearing that kind of work that could have impacted so moving and it’s deeply important to the donors and supporters of the foundation. That’s a great summary and great overview. Maybe a bit more about you, Elissa. Tell me a bit more about you. Why do you do the work that you do? What brought you to the foundation? I know you’ve been there for some time for that matter. What brought you there? What keeps you there?

I’ve had the privilege of working at BC Cancer Foundation since 2012. Not to age myself, but I have been here for over a decade. I’ve been in the healthcare fundraising field for some time prior to joining. I was in the UK with Cancer Research UK. I was really motivated to make a change and to join BC Cancer Foundation. Part of it was coming back to my Canadian roots, but it’s a world class organization supporting a world class institution like BC Cancer.

I think one of the things that keeps me here over a decade is that I’ve been able to see the translation of donor dollars into projects and initiatives that are benefiting patients now. Research takes time. Trials take time. Infrastructure takes time. To be able to see the fruition of efforts and the incredible generosity of tens of thousands of donors across the province, that’s what keeps me here.

At the end of the day, it comes down to people. You mentioned that cancer touches everyone, that the stat right now is 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. I have my personal reasons, of course, for being here. Every day, I have the opportunity to speak with donors, with patients, with the clinicians who are leading the incredible programs with the researchers. That’s what keeps me inspired.

Statistics today show that one in two people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Share on X

I always say I’ve never been given the opportunity to be bored. It is constant learning because research, the pace of, of innovation is accelerating, I’d say, at an exponential rate. That’s exciting to me. Most of all, I think I’m inspired by the courage of patients and their families and the role that we can play in facilitating their desire for change with the vision of our partners at BC Cancer.

Foundation’s Latest Campaigns And Initiatives

I know we’ve only got limited time here, but you must have so many great stories about the impact, about the donor stories, the donor encounters for that matter. Hearing so many personal stories and personal journeys, it’s such moving important work in so many ways, isn’t it?

Absolutely.

I was going to say, thinking about the over ten years you’ve had at the foundation, this might be an unfair question. When you think about the things that you’ve been a part of, are there particular things that really resonate for you that you’re particularly proud of or were particularly moving or momentous occasions, either in that donor experience or your own professional journey for that matter?

I think there are a number of things, as you alluded to, but we’ve seen in my time here the incredible growth of our fundraising programs and the sophistication of the teams that we’ve built. We announced the successful closing of our Beyond Belief campaigns. We raised $529 million for cancer research and care across the province. When we launched this campaign, this the largest healthcare fundraising campaign in BC’s history.

We galvanized the community across BC to come together and to make these incredible investments in our system. That’s been extremely rewarding and I think we should all be proud of that as a province, because the impact that this will make is not just for now, it’s for future generations. I hope that we build, and that is our intent, to build off the strength of that campaign. We’re setting our sights further over the next five years and beyond. We remain ambitious because we know the needs are only going to increase in complexity and in scope and in volume.

A more specific example of something that I’ve been incredibly proud of, our investments that we’ve made in early detection initiatives. BC Cancer was the first province in Canada to launch a provincial lung screening program. This was thanks to investments from donors to BC Cancer Foundation. That program has been running since 2022.

Through that screening, they’re identifying patients who have lung cancer. About 75% of them are caught at stage 1 or 2, which means that those cancers are so much more treatable, you can operate on them and remove surgically. It’s really flipping the paradigm because if you wait for symptoms to present, that stat is 75% typically at stage 3 or 4. We are truly saving lives thanks to philanthropy. That’s something that I think we’re extremely proud of and we want to do more of.

If you wait for cancer symptoms to show, you are already at stage three of four of your illness. Share on X

Understanding The Work Culture At BC Cancer Foundation

By all means. That connection to mission, that connection to cause and these kinds of projects, that really comes through in all the staff members, all the leaders that I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to at the foundation in the past days and weeks, as I do my deep dive and learn more about you. Candidates will inevitably ask about culture. They want to know what it’s like to work there on a day-to-day basis. You’ve been there a long time. You’ve certainly been an embedded part of that. When you think about the culture of the foundation, what is the culture that you have now? What are you trying to create as an organization at the foundation?

I think culture is everything. I think that’s a great question. I think it’s important aspects for a candidate to explore to make sure that it aligns with what they want as well. I’d say at the foundation, we’ve built a culture certainly over the past few years of passion. I hope that comes through. Of professionalism, of positivity because you have to have hope. We know that there are outcomes that they’re not what people have wished for, but we have hope in the future and better targeted treatments.

As we embark on our next five years of our strategic plan, I’d say that we are an ambitious organization. I’d say we’re tenacious and creative. That’s underpinned of course, by purpose and kindness. I’d say those are the driving forces that keep us focused. We were built on metrics, certainly on the development and fundraising side. That’s how we measure our success, our outputs, and that is important.

We’re making big investments in business transformation. I think we’ll be able to see more of the utility and application of technology in our day-to-day work, but we are also focused on that collaboration, that human element and to celebrate how we work together, because we go back to impact. I think that’s what we’re all motivated by. It’s a place where you can really make that impact, grow your career. Truly know that it matters.

BC Cancer Foundation’s New Executive Director Role

I was going to say that ambition and tenaciousness must really come when you’re having such impact, when you’re able to see the direct connection between the work you’re doing, the donors you’re working with, and literally saving lives in so many cases. Should we pivot then to the role of the ED specifically, which is what we’re here really to talk about? Why this role, why now? I understand you’ve created this role to help lead and direct the program fundamentally. What’s exciting about plan giving and estate giving at the foundation now?

Yeah, so gift and estate planning is a key part of the BC Cancer Foundation’s strategic plan. There is full support and recognition of the importance of this program from all layers of the organization, certainly, from our senior leadership team. I think that you asked why we created this position. We’re at a truly historic moment in time. Over the next decade, we’re going to see the largest intergenerational transfer of wealth in Canada’s history.

It’s already happening. This is as Baby Boomers and the generation that built Canada’s wealth, pass it on to their families and the causes that they care deeply about. For organizations like ours, it represents an incredible opportunity and I’d say a deep responsibility. We’re already seeing growth of the program. We’ve made significant investments in staffing, in activities, in awareness building and we’re seeing that translate into more donors who want to make that lasting impact to ensure that their values and their connection to BC Cancer pass on.

We’ve recognized the need to have a seasoned senior leader in this executive director role to lead this moment intentionally based on experience. Back to that ambition, we need someone who can really guide our donors and our strategies and those advisors through complex, meaningful legacy gifts who can help modernize our approach to planned giving and who can really ensure that every one of those gifts helps transform the cancer outcomes that we’re all committed to impacting.

 

That’s so well put both contextually and within the context of the foundation for that matter. So much is happening socially in regards to wealth transfer and it’s an ongoing concern that can really be leveraged in so many ways. What do you envision the ED doing? What is the work of the executive director? If you were to assay what is a day-to-day activity or process looks like? What are the key things that you think this person should be focusing on?

The executive director would lead I have to say a truly talented team, a sophisticated team focused on both future and realized gifts. There are two arms to the department. The frontline fundraising, and certainly this executive director would have the responsibility of setting the strategic direction, the activities, the mentorship for that fundraising portfolio.

We also have a sophisticated estate administration arm to this department, which is very well led, so having oversight of that function as well. The executive director would collaborate very closely with some of our other programs like our major gifts team, which is a natural collaborative opportunity with our marketing and communications team, because ensuring that we continue to raise awareness of this way of giving is critically important. Also, playing a key role in shaping policy forecasting and ensuring that the program reflects best practices nationally while staying at the forefront of innovative and exciting ways to reach the audiences that we believe have the most potential to make a significant impact through their estate plans.

I want to reinforce a couple of things there that you mentioned at the beginning of the previous question, for that matter. That’s the organization foundation-wide buy-in for the role and the acceptance and the excitement about the capacity for plan giving and estate giving for that matter. Knowing that this person’s going to collaborate across the organization, work with the major gifts staff, both in their own work with their own donors, and in turn, the reverse as well.

Also, being able to realize some major gifts in the course of this person’s own frontline work, which I also want to emphasize that they’re going to carry their own pipeline, they’re going to have donor exposure. That’s a really key piece here. I think for fund fundraisers who love doing that work, it’s a fundamental piece. It’s to be able to keep that, those muscles activated and that brain fresh for that matter, for sure.

You’re absolutely right, Christoph. I think that something that we embrace and foster at the foundation is that blended giving approach. Our major gifts team, as they have conversations with their close partners around their philanthropic plans, they enter into conversations around estate planning. This executive director will help support those pieces, that education, the strategies. The flip side is also equally true. Working on current opportunities and that really builds that trust for that future gift. We very much encourage that. We have a whole metric system that celebrates those cross collaborations that we can speak to candidates about.

 

Elissa’s Collaborative Leadership Style Anchored In Trust

We’ve talked about collaboration and you are a key collaborator with the executive director as well. I want to talk a bit more about you, about your leadership style, how you see yourself working with this person. What do you see the nature of that relationship like?

My leadership style has been, I hope to say, collaborative.

I think it is. I’m getting that sense from the people I speak to as well.

That’s good. Collaborative, empowering and really anchored in trust. At the foundation, we intentionally hire people who are experts in their fields so that they can carry out their vision building on their experience, on their expertise. I’d say we’re open. We’re at a moment in time coming off of great strengths, particularly off the Beyond Belief campaign, and we want to build on that and grow.

We’re very open to testing out new ideas. I’d say that our gift and estate planning portfolio, I have a very special place in my heart for this. It’s been a true passion of mine, certainly over the past few years. In terms of working with this executive director, it’s something that I definitely want to support while allowing that space to take a fresh and critical lens at the program to see how we can extend it even further.

That’s it, the extension of the program. It’s a successful program. Even now, for that matter. I think having raised $20 million in 2024, I think you had a few years ago, the largest estate gift, over $20 million from John Jambor and his family, I believe, a few years ago as well. There’s some credible success and as you say, an excellent team in place. This person really is going to be well positioned for success.

We’ve had, especially over the past few years, a tangible growth trajectory for the program, both in confirmed expectancies, so future gifts, as well as in the realized revenues. It’s a reflection of the activity that’s happening from the teams of the wider factors that we spoke about with transfer of wealth. We’re in a position of strength, but it’s looking critically. We have tens of thousands of donors who give to BC Cancer Foundation annually.

Are we entering into all the conversations that we ought to be? Are there other strategies that we can employ? Who are the influencers and trusted connectors with some of these individuals that we’d like to speak with. It’s all about those approaches and what is meaningful for the donor and how we can demonstrate impact.

The Best Person To Fill The Executive Director Role

We’ve talked a lot about the kinds of things this person’s going to be doing and responsible for their colleagues, their team working with you. In your mind, when this person comes on board how would they earn a gold star on your team? What do you think you might be looking for? Early stages, mid stages, however you define them.

We’re in the business of relationships. We’re not a transactional organization or foundation. I think a gold star for me would be someone that comes in and who has that ability to build those strong relationships across the board, of course, first and foremost within the foundation. With their immediate team and with their colleagues and collaborators. Really looking at that donor community, the advisor community, developing those relationships to bring fresh strategic ideas to tackle.

 

I’d say in the first year, success would look like deepening the integration between the team and some of the other programs. We have that strong foundation, but I think there’s still more potential to drive that even forward. Looking at our pipeline as well. I mentioned the large volume of donors that we have, so how can we use technology and articulate better insights to help us plan those strategies and support that culture of excellence within the team?

Most Compelling Reasons To Join BC Cancer Foundation

Just in closing then, thinking about a candidate who’s thinking about applying for the role or wanting to join you at the foundation, what do you think are some the most compelling reasons for someone to come join you at the foundation? You’ve given us so much scope to work with, but in summary, like what would the high-level summary, if you will be?

I’d say the BC Cancer Foundation is really special place. It’s a place where we can genuinely say we are changing and saving lives. It is a high-performing, collaborative team. The institution that is raising the most funds for cancer research in our province. I think that the buy-in and the support and the recognition of the importance of the gift and estate planning portfolio is something that can’t be understated.

I think that makes a big difference for a candidate at this level to come in knowing that there is the appetite and the excitement already to support this program and to see it grow. I’d say we’re already leaders in this space and this elevated position is a reflection of that knowledge that we have, that there is still so much potential and we’re just excited to work with a seasoned, experienced leader who has that same drive to keep on pushing forward.

Future Of The Foundation And The Executive Director Role

Your passion, excitement comes through in, in spades, but what do you think excites you most, just in closing, about the future of the foundation or the future of the role? You’ve seen so much in your time, you’ve talked about so many wonderful areas here to explore.

I’m excited by the potential of innovation and that’s in research and technology and talent. I truly think that we’re at this critical moment in time in terms of scientific discovery and the application of technology and different ways of working. I think the role that we play as a foundation to foster partnerships to identify areas of wide impact for patients and their families. That’s here, that’s what we’re focused on. That’s what excites me. In order to do that, we need to have a strong foundation, the best talent, and that’s where this role comes in to help partner with us to achieve those goals.

We are in this critical moment of scientific discovery and the application of technology in many different ways. Share on X

Episode Wrap-Up And Closing Words

We’ve covered so much here, Elissa. There’s so much that’s exciting. It’s a certainly a rare and compelling opportunity for, as you say, a subject matter expert to really come in and join an achievement-oriented, ambitious, sophisticated organization to really galvanize and grow and elevate this really phenomenal program with so much capacity and so much potential. There’s lots more we can say for them. Any final words for candidates or people who are considering throwing their hat in the ring or might want to learn a bit more?

I think this is a rare opportunity to have this type of elevated position to lead this program with what I’d say a leading foundation in an organization that has a strong track record and that is pretty clear in terms of where we want to go. I’d say if you’re someone that’s passionate, that’s the word that keeps on coming back, about philanthropy, about leadership, about estate planning, I think it’s an incredible opportunity and we’re just really looking forward to working with this next leader.

I’m looking forward to bringing some potential next leaders forward. Anybody who is interested, anybody that’s curious, can feel free to reach out to me at any point. [email protected]. BCCancerFoundation.com is your address as well. It’s a great website with a lot of information, impact reports, annual reports, and financial information, it’s all there for people to really peruse and take in for that matter.

We’re really excited about the prospect of really elevating this program and it’s been a great conversation. I know we’ll chat again soon as we have some interesting conversations with candidates and field our questions as well, for that matter. Always a pleasure, Elissa. Really appreciate your time and passion, and for that matter, all the fantastic work you’re doing to make healthcare and cancer alleviation much better in our communities.

 

Important Links

• BC Cancer Foundation
• Christoph Clodius Email
• Elissa Ming Morrissette on LinkedIn